Souls of Fire Read Free Page B

Not even having noticed, I’d dropped it there during the shock off seeing my new ‘tattoo’.
    I opened the latch on my bag and dug my hand in looking for something I’d only cursorily glanced at before. Pulling out the brochure of my college, I plumped myself down on the wooden floor ― legs folded under ― and swiftly opened it up to the first page, running my forefinger slowly down the index.
    Here it is! I thought, a peculiar sensation stirring in my gut; a mixture of excitement and fear. I stared down at the title of one of the many college classes up for selection:
    ‘Paranormal Phenomena in Today’s Society’
    In a nutshell , I thought, absent-mindedly twirling my hair around my fore- and middle finger. My gaze shifted to the right and came to rest upon the name of the professor who would teach this class:
     
    Aaron Chambers
     
    A chill ran down my spine at the exact same moment that my heart skipped several beats.
    What is wrong with me today? I asked myself not for the first time this morning, clawing at my hair in frustration, a habit I had unfortunately picked up sometime during my childhood and had never been able to throw off since. With all the frustration I’d gone through in my teens up until this day, it was a wonder I still had hair.
    Letting out a long sigh, I closed my eyes and tried to relax a bit. I was so freaked out about the mysterious transformation of my birthmark that I couldn’t think straight anymore. I gathered my balance must be so off that my body reacted to every little thing I focused on and sent completely scrambled signals to my brain.
    I concentrated on breathing, pulling the air slowly into my lungs and letting it linger there for a few measured moments before slowly and evenly pushing it back out.
    Aaah … that felt good, I sighed internally, letting go of the tension that had taken hold of my entire body as well as my mind. I was determined not to let my thoughts linger on my birthmark and to completely ignore any reactions my body might hold in store for me today. I just couldn’t trust myself at the moment!
    After carefully getting to my feet and making sure my legs had stopped shaking, I crossed the length of my room and grabbed the suitcase I had deposited next to my bed after having packed it haphazardly the night before, having left it to nearly the last minute as I always did whenever I went on a trip.
    Although I had at first felt some trepidation at the thought of living on campus, I’d gradually warmed to the idea of ‘broadening my horizon’ and ‘making new experiences’, as my mother and father would put it, and now actually felt almost excited about this new development in my to date rather uneventful life.
    Still, I felt unsure about my ability to be a good roommate. I loved my privacy, my own personal space where I could roll up into a ball and lie for hours immersed in my reading or just thinking about things that occupied my mind.
    Number one , I thought, work on your people skills, and at least try to keep up a semblance of social behavior! Number two , the thought immediately followed the first, don’t try too hard or you’ll look like an idiot!!!
    Hmmm, some things might be better left alone , I sighed, thinking of my chances of actually making friends at college. I tended to always say the wrong things and in general never knew what pleased other people. And since I hadn’t changed in the least since finishing school, I didn’t know why that should suddenly change.
    Heading for the door, suitcase in hand, bag slung over my shoulder and my coat hanging over my arm, I took a last intense look around my room, my gaze slowly roaming over everything I had known and loved my entire life, trying to determine whether I’d forgotten to pack something of vital importance.
    The morning sunlight slanted into the room through the window above my favorite perch, revealing a line of swirling dust motes, lending a soft white glow to the white see-through